His eyes stung from the emotion that rose within him. He reached up and covered her hand with his. “And I you, Aunt.”
With a warm smile, she made her way out of the room.
Alaric walked over to the window she had vacated and stared at the purple heather beyond. These desolate moors had been his salvation for years, but also his prison. He couldn’t imagine going anywhere else, because this place was home. However, at the same time, it was filled with dark memories of his past that he didn’t care to tarnish his future.
Giving the matter some careful thought, he turned and walked into his study. If he was going to start a new life with Marlene, perhaps it was time he made some other changes as well.
Marlene awoke to the sensation of someone massaging her breasts, drawing her nipples to taut peaks. With a moan, her eyes fluttered open to feel a hard, warm body pressed up against hers.
“I want you,” Alaric growled, as he nipped at her earlobe.
She responded by wiggling her bottom against his hard cock.
“You wicked vixen,” he said breathlessly. “You shall pay dearly for that.”
Moments later, Marlene was clutching the counterpane on either side of her as Alaric pleasured her with his mouth. She was soon lost to the ecstasy he was creating. When she found her release, he licked away every last drop and crawled back up her body to capture her lips with his. While she was still floating on a cloud of bliss, he stoked the fires back to life as he slid inside her wet core. The feeling of joining with him was magnificent, because now it was for a purpose. The first time they had come together had been out of lustful desire, the second to perform the art of sex magic, but this time—there was nothing to compare to the wondrous sensation of being with the one she loved.
It was stronger than the most potent wine.
When he found his release, she could feel every pulse as his seed was sent deeply into her womb. It was only in the aftermath that she realized they hadn’t used any protection.
As he lay beside her and held her close to him, her head resting in the crook of his arm, she looked up at him. “You didn’t wear a sheath.”
He peered down at her, those remarkable, blue eyes as remarkable as ever. She knew she would never tire of losing herself in their brilliance. “No. But I didn’t imagine it would be a problem.” He looked concerned. “Unless you don’t want children—”
“No, it’s not that at all.” She was quick to reassure him. “I just didn’t know if you were ready for that much of a commitment.”
He moved until he was on his side, facing her. He reached out and grasped her chin. “I am fully committed to no one but you, now and forever. I love you, Marlene. You saved my life, bringing me back from the depths of despair when everything was bleak without you. I want nothing more than to fill every inch of my being with the laughter and joy that has long been denied.”
She smiled broadly. “I’m glad to hear it, because that’s all I want too.”
She could tell the moment his mood shifted. “I hadn’t wanted to spoil our time together just now, but I feel it is imperative that I inform you that my aunt will be leaving Rosedale Heights, likely in a matter of weeks.”
Marlene instantly filled with sorrow. “I hope I didn’t neglect her—”
“It has nothing to do with you, but rather her own quest to see more of the world with whatever time she has left. She told me that she had used this place as a sanctuary for her grief.” He paused, his focus distant. “I wonder if I haven’t been doing the same, only using it as my personal prison.”
Marlene was grateful that Lady Erica’s decision had nothing to do with her, but now her worry shifted to her betrothed. “Are you saying you want to leave Rosedale Heights? Or Rosedale Abbey itself?”
He blew out a heavy breath. He moved away from the bed and donned his trousers. She sat up, but she was grateful when he returned and sat beside her. “I’m not sure what I want. My life, until this point, has been filled with nothing but the thought of Hector returning and what I must try to do to defeat him.” His gaze roamed over her face. “In the end, you were the one who turned out to be all the salvation that we needed.”
She leaned forward and gave him an impulsive kiss. “I didn’t do it alone.”
He smiled, but said nothing more, only turned serious again. “What about you? Would you want to live here? Or somewhere new? I have enough money to keep us happily settled for the remainder of our days, no matter where we choose to start our lives together.”
Marlene considered that for a moment, wondered about the best way to respond. “If it were up to me, I would stay right here. I know this place may carry with it some unsavory parts of the past, but we will change the future. Rosedale Heights will always be special to me because it’s where I met you. You are connected to all of those paintings on the wall, and this is where I discovered who I truly am. This is where we belong.”
She waited in breathless anticipation to see what he would say, but she released the air in her lungs when the grin on his face steadily grew to one of absolute adoration. He reached for her, and together they tumbled back onto the bed.
After several minutes, they parted. Alaric glanced down at her and said, “I can’t marry you soon enough, my love. I dare wonder how I became so lucky as to obtain you at all.”
Her lips twitched, recalling a conversation they’d had shortly after she had arrived. “I know you don’t believe in fate, but perhaps you can believe that it played a hand in our union.”
He lowered his head and gave a hearty chuckle. “I daresay you are correct.” His gaze returned to hers, and this time, her breath left for another reason entirely. “But I truly believe it is because you bewitched me.”
Epilogue
Six months later…
